US President Barack Obama has earmarked $36.5 million in his 2011 budget to support democracy and humanitarian programs for Burma and along the Thai-Burma border.
The money, earmarked under the US Administration' s “Economic Support Fund,” would be used within Burma but also for programs and activities involving Burmese student groups and other unnamed organizations located outside the country.
The proposed budget, covering the year beginning in Oct. 2010, now goes before the US Congress for its approval.
The Administration proposes that in addition to aid for Burmese refugees provided under the heading "Migration and Refugee Assistance,' ' $ 4 million shall be made available for community-based organizations operating in Thailand to provide food, medical and other humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in eastern Burma.
According to the 2011 budgetary proposals, when implementing activities with funds appropriated for assistance for Burma, the implementing agency shall only support activities that are consistent with the principles and goals of the National League for Democracy in Burma.
The budgetary proposals also reiterate that the Obama administration will continue to oppose at any international forums any loans or financial assistance to Burma.
“[The] Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each appropriate international financial institution in which the United States participates, to oppose and vote against the extension by such institution of any loan or financial or technical assistance or any other utilization of funds of the respective bank to and for Burma,” the proposals state.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a radio interview that Washington had “offered the potential” to Burma for developing better relations.
Clinton told the Voice of America: “We want to develop a better bilateral relationship with Burma and we have offered the potential of that. But of course we really hope to see the kind of progress that would demonstrate that Burma is ready to emerge from a period of authoritarian rule and some level of isolation and violation of human rights.
“The United States stands ready to work toward better relations with Burma and assistance but we have to see some evidence first.”
Clinton repeated US calls for “free fair and legitimate elections that give the people of Burma the chance to express their preference for their own leaders. We want to see Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners released as soon as possible.”
The money, earmarked under the US Administration' s “Economic Support Fund,” would be used within Burma but also for programs and activities involving Burmese student groups and other unnamed organizations located outside the country.
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| US President Barack Obama speaks about his budget for fiscal year 2011, at the White House on February 1, 2009 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Getty Images) |
The Administration proposes that in addition to aid for Burmese refugees provided under the heading "Migration and Refugee Assistance,' ' $ 4 million shall be made available for community-based organizations operating in Thailand to provide food, medical and other humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in eastern Burma.
According to the 2011 budgetary proposals, when implementing activities with funds appropriated for assistance for Burma, the implementing agency shall only support activities that are consistent with the principles and goals of the National League for Democracy in Burma.
The budgetary proposals also reiterate that the Obama administration will continue to oppose at any international forums any loans or financial assistance to Burma.
“[The] Secretary of the Treasury shall instruct the United States executive director to each appropriate international financial institution in which the United States participates, to oppose and vote against the extension by such institution of any loan or financial or technical assistance or any other utilization of funds of the respective bank to and for Burma,” the proposals state.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a radio interview that Washington had “offered the potential” to Burma for developing better relations.
Clinton told the Voice of America: “We want to develop a better bilateral relationship with Burma and we have offered the potential of that. But of course we really hope to see the kind of progress that would demonstrate that Burma is ready to emerge from a period of authoritarian rule and some level of isolation and violation of human rights.
“The United States stands ready to work toward better relations with Burma and assistance but we have to see some evidence first.”
Clinton repeated US calls for “free fair and legitimate elections that give the people of Burma the chance to express their preference for their own leaders. We want to see Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisoners released as soon as possible.”
